A last-minute winner from Rodrygo saw Real Madrid get their Champions League campaign off to the ideal start away to Inter on Wednesday night.
In an entertaining but goalless first half, Inter repeatedly exposed but failed to exploit the gaping chasms Madrid’s lopsided system offered.
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A wayward free header from Madrid’s Eder Militao half an hour in wasn’t reflective of the run of play as the visitors conceded 14 shots in the first half alone – their second-highest 45 minute tally suffered in the Champions League since at least 2004 according to Opta.
Inter’s Edin Dzeko drew the best of numerous stops from Thibaut Courtois with a thunderous header of his own shortly after the interval that Milan Skriniar couldn’t convert on the rebound.
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But the hosts lost their fluency thereafter. Inter’s drop-off certainly owed to Madrid’s increased, though largely stale, domination of the ball. However, much like their league draw at the weekend, Simone Inzaghi’s introduction of four players less than 20 minutes into the second half certainly robbed the Nerazzurri of the zip and thrust that defined their first half.
In the end, his heavily tinkered side were stung at the death as, ironically, Carlo Ancelotti’s substitutes Eduardo Camavinga and Rodrygo combined for the only goal of the game from close range to snatch victory.
©ControlTV2021.
